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What do Persian Jews prepare for each other to celebrate Purim? I have always wondered about this. The Persian Jewish community is very insular, and I have never had the opportunity to ask. Thanks to the development of social media, it was possible for me to approach a group of Persian Jewish women to inquire. The special Purim treat of the Persian Jews is saffron halvah.

Saffron halvah is not like the white sesame halvah I am used to from Israel. A base of flour and oil is cooked, and then flavored with nuts and spices. Its consistency is more akin to that of a brownie. The resulting halvah has a deep golden tone, and is redolent of saffron and rosewater. The soft pastry is accentuated with the crunch of almonds and pistachios. It is a Purim treat that truly harkens back to Queen Esther’s palace.

Purim is a foodie’s paradise! The Book Of Esther (9:22) instructs us to feast in celebration of the Jews’ deliverance from Haman. It also tells us to send gifts of food to one another, so everyone may rejoice. According to the Halakha, “gifts of food” means at least two different foods that are ready to be consumed. In my family, the tradition was to have a minimum of three items in the Purim basket. We always baked Hamantaschen, and included nuts and fruits in our gifts. This year you can take your friends on a magic carpet ride to exotic, faraway Persia by sending them Purim packages with authentic Persian treats.

I found recipes for four traditional Persian sweets. They are pareve and gluten-free. Best of all, they are really easy to prepare.

Mix all the ingredients except the granulated sugar and crushed pistachios. Allow the dough to rest for 30 minutes. Pick off small pieces of dough and roll them around a clean surface to shape them into the traditional shape: that of a mulberry.

Sprinkle some sugar on each confection.

Insert a sliver of pistachio at one end of each “berry” to be the stem.

Scoop out the batter with a teaspoon, and drop little mounds of it onto the cookie sheet.

Sprinkle crushed pistachios on the cookies.

Bake for 20 minutes.

These cookies are sweet, nutty, crunchy, and delectable.

When you have finished concocting these exotic, delicious treats, it will be time for you to present them in a fashion that befits them. I think it’s fun to imagine how they would have been served at Queen Esther’s party. You can find an inexpensive silver-like tray at a thrift store, or a disposable metal tray. Place each confection in an individual bakery tissue, and arrange it on the tray. When your friends bite into these cookies, they will experience the sensual pleasures of rosewater, cardamom, and nuts. Your magic carpet will transport them to Shushan, to Queen Esther’s table.